Romney coupled his claim of victory with a swipe at his opponents, all of whom have served in Congress and lived in the nation's capital.

"The voters of Washington have sent a signal that they do not want a Washington insider in the White House," he said in a statement. "They want a conservative businessman who understands the public sector and knows how to get the federal government out of the way so that the economy can again grow vigorously."

Paul's diverse support

Returns from caucuses in 60 percent of Washington state's precincts showed Romney with 37 percent of the vote, while Paul and Santorum each had 24 percent. Gingrich was drawing 11 percent.

Paul campaigned in the Seattle area on on Saturday. Curiously, the libertarian contender - running on a platform of peace and drastic reduction of government - had his best showings in liberal King County and four conservative counties in northeast Washington.

Romney's win was worth at least 12 of the 40 delegates at stake. Paul and Santorum each won at least three. The rest remained unallocated, pending final returns.

The count was slow because turnout was high. "The problem is with King and Pierce counties where we had to count a lot of votes," said state GOP Chairman Kirby Wilbur said. The chairman added that caucus turnout is running far ahead of 2008.

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Paul has yet to win a primary or caucus, but did place second in both the Minnesota and Iowa caucuses.

The backing for Romney was businesslike: The candidate's lack of charisma is acknowledged, but he is seen by many as the most electable of the four Republicans still vying for their party's presidential nomination.

"Oh, I suspect Romney: I like Gingrich, but I'd like to see him as an oracle," said caucus-goer Bill Rademaker.

'Less government'

The results of the straw poll provides Romney with a boost 48 hours before Super Tuesday.

Patrick Moore, a student and Iraq war veteran, came to caucus for Ron Paul.

The Lake Jackson congressman wants to bring home U.S. troops who are stationed overseas. He has received more contributions from active and retired military than any other contender in the GOP contest.

"I believe in less government, more liberty," said Moore, "and I am also strictly anti-war and non-interventionist. He (Paul) is the only candidate who says anything about getting the troops out."

Trio in Ohio

Romney, Santorum and Gingrich were all campaigning in Ohio - the most intensely contested of the Super Tuesday states - as the first caucus returns were reported.

Romney said he would seek the repeal of legislation that passed Congress in 2002 to tighten accounting standards in the wake of the collapse of Enron.

Santorum spent the day in Ohio, where he touted his plan to improve the nation's manufacturing base and said part of the effort must include a reduction in the number of children born out of wedlock. In Cincinnati, the former Pennsylvania senator said there's less freedom in neighborhoods "where there are no dads."

Gingrich also campaigned in Ohio and drew laughs when he recalled what a voter in Tennessee had told him recently about rising gasoline prices. He said the man had said Obama has his own version of former candidate Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan: "He wants us to pay $9.99 a gallon."